Defending champion Saina Nehwal has pulled out of Commonwealth Games starting next week in Glasgow. Saina is yet to recover from the blisters on her feet she got after the Australian Open Super Series.
This comes as a major blow to India's chance for a gold at the Commonwealth, but Saina was not willing to go in to Glasgow under prepared.
"There is no point in risking further injury by going in without match fitness and could not have able to retain properly for the CWG.
"Rather now I will prepare for the World Championship and Asian Games," Saina said.
Currently world number seven, Saina had defeated Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia in a thrilling final during the 2010 Commonwealth Games to bag a gold.
"I know I am a favourite at Commonwealth Games. I am the defending champion but I still have to play and give my 100 per cent to win the title. In sports, it is difficult," the 24-year-old insisted.
India had won four medals in the previous edition of the Games at New Delhi. Besides Saina's gold in women's singles, the pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the yellow metal in women's doubles, Parupalli Kashyap earned a bronze in men's singles, while the hosts settled for silver in the team event.
Saina's withdrawal is a big blow to India as the shuttlers were hoping to win at least five medals this time around, with P V Sindhu in women's singles and K Srikanth in men's singles also having bright chances of a podium finish.
(with PTI inputs)
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